textproduct: Amarillo

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1152 AM CST Thu Dec 25 2025

-Above average, with potential for record breaking temperatures, are forecast to continue through Saturday.

-A cold front will bring cooler, below normal, temperatures Sunday through early next week.

-No significant precipitation is forecast through the next week, which may bring fire weather concerns during the period.

SHORT TERM

(This afternoon through Friday night) Issued at 1152 AM CST Thu Dec 25 2025

A warm Christmas is underway for the combined Panhandles with record highs expected to continue for another day, which should make for great conditions for those who want to try out their outdoor gifts. With our records in the lower and mid/upper 70s, we should easily break those given the continued high pressure pattern(we have already broken the Amarillo high for the day). The weather pattern doesn't change much through the short term as much of the South remains under upper ridging and westerly to southwesterly winds. This will continue to bring above normal temperatures to the region through the end of the week and no chance, unfortunately, for precipitation. Current forecast shows our climate sites tomorrow nearing records once again but breaking them is not a guarantee. Nevertheless, it will remain above normal for the combined Panhandles.

LONG TERM

(Saturday through next Wednesday) Issued at 1152 AM CST Thu Dec 25 2025

A pattern change will take place as we head toward the weekend. The upper ridge will continue to shift to the east, but the area will remain on the above normal side for temperatures during this time thanks to southwesterly winds and increased low level temperatures. While this occurs, a surface low will begin taking shape off the Rockies. This low looks to move to the east Saturday night into Sunday. As this occurs, it will drop a cold front through our region. This will bring temperatures down to much more seasonal averages, even below in some locations on Sunday. Models continue to show there could be enough moisture to squeeze out some light snow or flurries in the northwest to western Panhandles, however I don't have a lot of confidence in this solution and I definitely don't have any confidence in any impactful weather.

The surface high will drop south toward the Red River through Tuesday morning, allowing for conditions to remain below normal for both highs and lows through Tuesday morning. Southerly flow resumes and another rough of mid level ridging moves back into the region for our entrance into 2026. This should bring seasonal weather to the region Tuesday and trends of above average temperatures for the end of the year into 2026. At this time, we are not looking at record breaking temperatures like we have been seeing Christmas week, but will monitor for any changes to the strength of the weather pattern. There remains some uncertainty as a wide range of temperatures exist in the ensembles with some hinting at much colder weather to continue. Unfortunately, this weather pattern does remain on the dry side so any warm, windy day could lead to fire weather concerns. Will also monitor those each day.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 422 PM CST Thu Dec 25 2025

VFR conditions at all terminals and across the panhandles for the next 24 hours. The gusty winds will weaken this evening and remain weak during the overnight hours. Then come late Friday morning the winds will become gusty again at all terminals and across the panhandles.

AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...None. OK...None.